Continuous culture for 1,3-propanediol production using high glycerine concentration

Abstract

The present invention concerns a new method for the production of 1,3-propanediol comprising culturing a microorganism on a culture medium with high glycerine content. The invention also concerns a new microorganism, or strain of microorganism, adapted for the production of 1,3-propanediol from medium comprising high glycerine content. The invention also concerns an “adapted microorganism” which glycerol metabolism is directed to 1,3-propanediol production, and which is allowed to grow in the presence of a high concentration of industrial glycerine. The invention also concerns a biosourced 1,3-propanediol obtained by the process thereof. Finally the invention concerns the use of the above described biosourced 1,3-propanediol as extender chain in thermoplastic polyurethane, as monomers in polytrimethylene terephtalate and as a component in cosmetics formulations.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method for the production of 1,3-propanediol in a continuous fermentation process of glycerine, comprising culturing a producing microorganism on a culture medium, said producing microorganism allowing the conversion of glycerol into 1,3-propanediol, and recovering the 1,3-propanediol, wherein the culture medium comprises a high concentration of industrial glycerine, said industrial glycerine comprising glycerol, and wherein the producing microorganism is a microorganism previously adapted to grow in the presence of a high concentration of industrial glycerine. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein in the culture medium the glycerol is present at a concentration comprised from 90 to 120 g/L. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein in the culture medium the glycerol is present at a concentration of about 105 g/L. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the industrial glycerine is a by-product from biodiesel production. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the culture medium is a synthetic medium without addition of organic nitrogen source. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the culture medium is a synthetic medium without addition of yeast extract. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the producing microorganism is selected from the group consisting of members of the genus  Clostridium.    
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the producing microorganism comprises  Clostridium acetobutylicum.    
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the producing microorganism is a genetically modified bacteria. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the glycerol dehydratase activity in the producing microorganism is independent of the presence of coenzyme B 12 or a precursor thereof and is derived from  Clostridium butyricum.    
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the producing microorganism is adapted into a producing microorganism by culturing the microorganism on a culture medium comprising high concentration of industrial glycerine at a low dilution rate and selecting the adapted microorganism able to grow on the culture medium having high concentration of industrial glycerine. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the 1,3-propanediol is further purified. 
     
     
         35 . A method for the modification of a microorganism into a microorganism adapted to grow in the presence of a high concentration of industrial glycerine, comprising culturing the microorganism on a culture medium comprising high concentration of industrial glycerine at a low dilution rate and selecting the adapted microorganism able to grow on the culture medium having high concentration of industrial glycerine. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the microorganism is cultured at low dilution rate over a period ranging from 24 hours to 10 days. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the dilution rate is comprised from 0.005 to 0.1 h −1 . 
     
     
         38 . A microorganism adapted to grow in the presence of a high concentration of industrial glycerine, susceptible to be obtained by a method comprising culturing the microorganism on a culture medium comprising high concentration of industrial glycerine at a low dilution rate and selecting the adapted microorganism able to grow on the culture medium having high concentration of industrial glycerine. 
     
     
         39 . Biosourced 1,3-propanediol obtained according to the method of  claim 23 . 
     
     
         40 . Biosourced 1,3-propanediol capable of being obtained according to the method of  claim 23 , and having a δ 13 C isotopic value lower than −34%. 
     
     
         41 . Biosourced 1,3-propanediol capable of being obtained according to the method of  claim 23 , and having a δ 13 C isotopic value less than −35%. 
     
     
         42 . Biosourced 1,3-propanediol capable of being obtained according to the method of  claim 23 , and having a δ 13 C isotopic value comprised from −35.05% to −36.09%. 
     
     
         43 . Biosourced 1,3-propanediol capable of being obtained according to the method of  claim 23 , and having a δ 80 O isotopic value comprised from 21.5% to 0.5%. 
     
     
         44 . Biosourced 1,3-propanediol capable of being obtained according to the method of  claim 23 , and having a δ 18 O isotopic value comprised from 21.9% to 15%. 
     
     
         45 . Biosourced 1,3-propanediol capable of being obtained according to the method of  claim 23 , and having a δ 18 O isotopic value comprised from 21.9% to 17.34%. 
     
     
         46 . Biosourced 1,3-propanediol capable of being obtained according to the method of  claim 23 , and having a combination of δ 13 C and δ 18 O isotopic values selected among the following values:
 δ 13 C value is lower than −34% and δ 18 O from 21.5% to 0.5%; 
 δ 13 C value is lower than −35% and δ 18 O from 21.9% to 15% or 
 δ 13 C value is of −35.05% to −36.09% and δ 18 O from 21.9% to 17.34%. 
 
     
     
         47 . Biosourced 1,3-propanediol capable of being obtained according to the method of  claim 23 , and having a  18 O/ 13 C isotopic ratio value comprised from −2 to 0. 
     
     
         48 . Biosourced 1,3-propanediol capable of being obtained according to the method of  claim 23 , and having a  18 O/ 13 C isotopic ratio value comprised from −1 to −0.2. 
     
     
         49 . Biosourced 1,3-propanediol capable of being obtained according to the method of  claim 23 , and having a  18 O/ 13 C isotopic ratio value comprised from −0.65 to −0.4. 
     
     
         50 . An extender chain in thermoplastic polyurethane synthesis comprising of 1,3-propanediol according to  claim 39 . 
     
     
         51 . A component for a cosmetic formulation comprising 1,3-propanediol according to  claim 39 . 
     
     
         52 . A monomer for synthesis of polytrimethylene terephtalate comprising 1,3-propanediol according to  claim 39 .